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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Get to Know....Tara Orr

Well hello to all you amazing Bo Bunny fans!! Its Tara Orr here and the Bo Bunny Spotlight is on me today - yippie!! I've been designing for Bo Bunny for just over a year now and am so very fortunate to design for such an amazing company. Thank you Bo Bunny for creating such fantastic products and thank you to everyone here today who has come to learn a little more about me.

I live in Beautiful British Columbia, Canada with my gorgeous husband of 10 years and our three amazing kids. My eldest son is 7, my youngest son is 5 and my daughter is 3. They are the heart and soul of my projects. I am now a SAHM to my precious little kiddos but before that I worked as a webmaster in the Technology industry for many years and loved it. I think I will return to the 'work' force one day but for now, my job is at home, raising my kids (and squeezing in a little scrapping on the side).

Meet the Family!

All five of us this past Canada Day wearing our 'handmade' Canada Flag T-Shirts!

Owen: My eldest son. Straight as an arrow and does everything by the book. He is a natural leader which can sometimes come off a titch bossy (according to his siblings). He is sooo much like me in the sense that he follows the rules to a tee, loves structure, routines and detailed lists. Plays amazingly by himself -solitare, chess, checkers, lego and adores crafts. He is brilliant and I know he will accomplish anything he sets his mind to. He will always be my 'baby'.

Quinn: My youngest son. He is a real boy's boy. LOVES anything to do with every kind of sport and he must be moving - constantly! He is super athletic. He wants to play hockey or baseball or kick the soccer ball around 24/7. He seriously cannot sit still for even 2 seconds. He is totally not interested in watching TV at all but loves playing videogames. He is super sensitive and extremely affectionate and empathetic. He is a little angel boy.

Eden: My little spitfire - my diva princess/tomboy. She is by far, my biggest challenge as a mom. She can be the sweetest little thing but can also be a little devil. She challenges every rule, is super defiant and tough as nails. Don't let that adorable face fool you - this kid can hold her own! She loves dressing up, painting her nails and reading books but would rather play Star Wars with her borthers or with lego guys than with Barbies or dolls. She loves to cuddle - actually all my kids do - which is fantastic for me! Shs is a daredevil and will try anything at least once. But... she is totally adorable and I cannot resist scrapping her on almost ALL of my projects (as I'm sure you've noticed)!

Jamie: My husband of 10 years, although we've been together for closer to 13. We met at the gym (ha - I don't even know what that word is anymore!), I went to visit him one night at the nightclub that he was 'bouncing' at (it was a phase), he gave me his number (I never called - I'm old fashioned like that) but he called me (thankfully) and it was history from there. He is an amazing man and an unbelievable daddy - the kids adore him. They love playing rough and tumble, wrestling and active stuff with him that I don't normally do. He loves to 'do' stuff with the kids - bikerides, roadtrips, parks, etc. rather than the 'pretend' play that mommy does best.

Random Facts about Me: I have a degree in Psychology, a green belt in karate, love horseback riding (although its been way too long since I last rode), I order a grande dark from Starbucks almost every day, prefer chocolate to any other sweet - although I'll eat any other sweet over chips/salty stuff any day, I'm the oldest of 3 siblings, gave up hope of maintaining my 'Monica from Friends' (as my husband would describe) cleaning habit once I had kids of my own, have earned more grey hairs and wrinkes in the past 7 years than I could have imagined and love my family more than anything else on the face of this earth!

This is where I create. Its actually not really a 'scrap room' per say, more of me taking over our dining room (who really eats there anyways) and converting into 'mommy's craft stuff' area.

I started scrapping in November 2008. Instant addiction. I love papercrafting - LOVE it. It challenges me, it relaxes me and it lets me escape into a world of creativity that I adore. I love to explore different techniques and styles but I feel that my style has settled into shabby chic with lots of distressing!

Initially, I only created 12x12 layouts. Forget cards, forget altered items and mini albums and double pagers? no way hosay! Now, I love crafting everything! I actually welcome an altered project from time to time as it helps to refresh my scrappy mojo for future layouts!

Okay, let's see some scrappy projects! I have a few that I'd like to share with you using some of the new CHA Summer Releases from Bo Bunny. I will be posting close up shots of all my creations on my blog today should you wish to see these projects in more detail.

My first project is a layout featuring the beautiful Garden Girl collection. Beautiful purples, greens and pinks make this the perfect release for your summer and spring photos!

Angel by Tara Orr

Bo Bunny Supply List:

Patterned Paper: Stripe, Garden Girl, Arbor, Wisteria/Garden Girl

Die Cut: Garden Girl

Noteworthy: Garden Girl

Chipboard: Garden Girl

Chunky Chips Chipboard Alpha: Clear

Secondly, I decided to do another layout featuring the same collection but using a completely different combination of papers and tones. I love how one collection can give you such different looking projects!

Lastly, I couldn't resist diving into some of the beautifully vintage and wonderfully classic holiday papers in Bo Bunny's Father Christmas line. Here I've altered an old mailbox I picked up at the local thrift store for $2.50! I was thinking it would be perfect for all those letters to Santa I know my kiddos will want to write.

Altered Mailbox by Tara Orr

Bo Bunny Supply List:

Patterned Paper: Cut Outs, Dot, Stripe/Father Christmas

Brads: Father Christmas

Combo Stickers: Father Christmas

These Holiday Tags were also created with the Father Christmas collection. I love making a series of similar tags as once you get the composition of the first the way you like, the subsequent ones take no time at all to complete!

Holiday Tags by Tara Orr

Bo Bunny Supply List:

Patterned Paper: Dot, Stripe/Father Christmas

Trinkets: Father Christmas

Layered Chipboard: Father Christmas

Here are a few of my Bo Bunny faves over the past year...

PHEW! Well.... that's all for me today (thank goodness you're all probably saying!) Oh - I almost forgot about the PRIZES.....

Do you want to win some Bo Bunny Goodies?? All you need to do is leave a comment on this post and at the end of the month there will be a giveaway for each Designer Spotlight! (Be sure to visit throughout the month as there's a new designer featured each day!)

Want another chance to win?? Leave a comment on MY BLOG by 12:00 PST on August 17th and I will randomly choose a winner to receive this Gabrielle prize pack!

You'll also find another 'sweet' project that I've done with Bo Bunny's NEW Sweet Tooth Collection so come on over for a visit!!

Thank you so very much for taking the time today to get to know a little more about me.

I am simply delighted!!His work is incredible! His beautiful family!Here in Brazil we do not find easily Bo Bunny products. We always think the most decorated papers, and embellishments are always forgotten.

His works are rich in ornaments, and I love, I'm crazy about them.kisses

What a beautiful family. That little girl is adorable. I like it that she is also a handful. God knows what he is doing. I always would say, "it is a good thing God made him so cute," when mine were little.Your work is amazing. Love the colors. I am such a fan of Bo Bunny....esp. their minis.

It was nice to see you at my blog. So immediately I wanted to know you better.What I wonderful lo's and cards you make.What anice kids you have. I love kids. I was always working with kids. Most of the time with teenagers. I love them.Josephine

Beautiful projects, Tara! Love all the layers and texture you use, and of course your photo subjects are pretty darn cute too. (Your "Sanity is overrated" page rocks! Gonna have to borrow that quote. :) )thanks for letting us get to know you you and your family better, as well as giving mis a peek into your scrap space.

Wow, Tara, your work is so amazing! Everything you create just blows me away! You always do the most beautiful rough distressing and detailing on your pages and you're such a sweet person too. It's wonderful to be on this amazing team with you:)

Your work is absolutely fabulous, I love the color combinations and the different types of embelishment and bling. I look forward to seeing a LOT more work from you. truely inspirational! and being at Bo Bunny Id say you are a perfect pair.

I love the spirit and versatility of your work, Tara! I can tell you have fun making every piece, and that is also one of the things I most enjoy about papercrafting. Thanks for sharing your heart and soul!

Tara your amazing!!!! I love everything you do. Actually, your what I want to be as far as doing layouts!!!! Your style is exactly what I strive for ( and never seem to do). Im a cardmaker and even your cards are so beautiful, that I now want to be your crafting twin!!!!! Thank you for sharing your beautiful creations and your beautiful family!!!!

Hi Wow your family look awesome ! I craft on our table too lol ! I could not even pick a favourite ! So talented and so many ideas to share. The invitaion is out of this world !! So beautiful. Love Bo Bunny I just love thier colour combinations and quality ! I am off to visit your blog now ! Thanks Kitty ;0)

It is lovely to learn more about you Tara and your family is just the cutest ever, I love how close knit you are and all the fun things you do together like the T-shirts! Your work...well it is always just stunning and I love everything about it and I look forward to another year on the DT with you :)